2017 has been dubbed

“The Year of the Family” &

the Key Spouses of the 2d

Maintenance Squadron

wasted no time in imple-

menting this year’s theme.

On 19 Jan, the Key Spous-

es of the 2 Maintenance

Group hosted a collabora-

tive effort to consolidate

and unify the squadrons

with a unique and unprece-

dented group wide event.

2MXS Key Spouse, Mrs.

Vicki Kraus, spearheaded

this event together with

2AMXS & 2MUNS.

This initiative was motivat-

ed by the need to “de-

stress, relax, and enjoy a

healthier life style,” - Mrs.

Kraus. It also provided the

perfect venue for camara-

derie amongst fellow 2MXG

spouses.

Spouses were invited to

the Mind-Body-Spirit Event;

where Hoban Hall was

transformed into a soothing

retreat. Here they were

introduced they begin their

wellness journey with the

“Mind Connection” by Capt

Marc Patience of 2MDG

Mental Health, who remind-

ed the audience a healthy

mind, healthy body connec-

tion is the key to a much

healthier & happier life.

They also heard from a local

nutritionist, Ms. Haley Bag-

well, who talked to the

spouses about making

healthy & conscious eating

choices.

They were then treated to a

light yoga session with their

very own 2AMXS Spouse,

Mrs. Elizabeth Anderson.

To cap the evening off,

spouses enjoyed refresh-

ments & door prizes from

Whole Foods!!!

Onsight childcare was also

provided by several volun-

teers from 2MXG so the

spouses could unwind while

their children played.

All in all, this benchmark

event was truly a success

and we hope to see more

events such as this across

the installation. Kudos to

our 2MXS, 2AMXS & 2MUNS

Key Spouses!!!

Volume 1, Issue 4

2MXG “Mind-Body-Spirit Event” was a Success!

Commander’s Corner…. Resignation Letters

Within the military life cycle,

transition is to be expected.

PCS’s, separations & retire-

ments are as inescapable

as death and taxes in our

Air Force culture. With that

being said, when and if the

time has come for a unit’s

Key Spouse to resign -

either voluntarily for per-

sonal reasons or career

moves - please have him/

her sign and complete a

letter of resignation. The

letter should be filed with

the A&FRC Key Spouse

Administrators so we can

ensure we have the most

current and up-to-date

personnel rosters. This

helps keep our distro list

current & accurate. Please

contact Mrs. Lyle @ 456-

8400 if a resignation letter

template is needed.

February 2017

Key Spouse Newsletter

Dates to Know

4 Feb, 0830 - Key Spouse Initial Training

8 Feb, 0900 - Bundles for Babies

11 Feb, 1000 - Sibshops

20 Feb - AFRC CLOSED

22 Feb, 0900 - Heart Link

28 Feb, 1800 Key Spouse meeting

Refresher Training Recap 2

Initial Training 411 2

Shout out!!! 3

Give Parents a Break 3

Heart Link update 3

Announcements 4

Military Saves Week 4

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

For this month’s Key Spouse

Training, we started with

some important topics. Mr.

Todd Makamson, from the

A&FRC, shared some basic

information about the forth-

coming new Blended Retire-

ment System (BRS). He

provided general awareness

so our Key Spouses have

some insight and knowledge

as the new program begins

to unfold and impacts our

newer generation of Airmen

and their families.

We then heard from Mrs.

Adriane Banks, the Domestic

Abuse Victim Advocate (DAVA).

She provided our Key Spouses

with additional tools and re-

sources to assist them should

they find themselves in a situa-

tion where a spouse and/or child

in their squadron may be experi-

encing domestic abuse.

We then moved into our refresh-

er training, where we mixed it up

a little bit!! We broke out in

teams and played Jeopardy!!!!

Congratulations to Team 2 for

sealing the win with a whopping

4,000 points!!! The winning team

took home some delicious

bundlets from a local bakery,

because, who doesn’t like

cake?!?! :) Thanks to every-

one that was able to make it

out! We will offer our next

refresher training later on in

the spring.

pick up.

Vouchers must be

picked up before 3 Feb

(but it is not recom-

mended to wait that

long)

Childcare is provided

through the FCC pro-

gram

www.militarychildcare.c

om

Lunch is provided -

We will be offering Key

Spouse Initial Training on

Saturday, 4 February from

0830-1530. Training will

take place in the A&FRC. A

few things to keep in mind:

Onsite childcare is not

provided

Childcare vouchers ARE

available! The spouse

must come by the

A&FRC front desk to

please do not make

lunch plans as a work-

ing lunch is necessary

to keep the class agen-

da on track

Key Spouse appoint-

ment letters MUST be

turned in prior to or the

day of training - no

letter = no training,

sorry :(

Please call 456-8400

PAGE 2

Key Spouse Refresher Training Recap

Key Spouse Initial Training

2 AMXS - Mrs. Lena Delia

2 CES - Mrs. Lyndsi Jamison

2FSS - Mrs. Storie Curran

Thanks for joining us!!!

“Courage doesn’t always

roar. Sometimes courage

is the quiet voice at the

end of the day saying, ‘I

will try again

tomorrow.’” - Mary Ann

Radmacher

KEY SPO USE N EWSL ETT ER

VO L UME 1, ISSUE 4

Mrs. Rachel Penwell, 2d

Munitions Squadron, is this

month’s feature Key

Spouse!! Mrs. Penwell is

known throughout her

squadron as an invaluable

resource for information.

She takes the initiative to

have her “ears to the

ground” to ensure the

2MUNS spouses are receiv-

ing the assistance they

need. She stepped up to

coordinate meal trains for

those effected by last

spring’s horrific flooding

and on several occasions,

serves as a liaison between

the spouses and First Ser-

geant. She makes sure her

spouses know who their

1Sgt is and provides a path-

way so they can seek further

assistance if needed.

Whether spouses need infor-

mation about obtaining a

referral, how to get prescrip-

tions refilled or helping to

coordinate the movement of

a deployed Airman’s spouse,

Mrs. Penwell is on it. She

networks with new inbound

spouses connecting them to

the squadron, and is open to

ideas that help keep their

Key Spouse program vibrant

and successful. Mrs. Pen-

well’s dedication and tenaci-

ty are an integral part of

2MUNS and help close the

gap between the military and

our families. Thank you to

the 2MUNS leadership for

recognizing the exceptional

contributions Mrs. Penwell

makes to the squadron.

please call the A&FRC

Front Desk @ 456-8400.

Please help us spread the

word about this fun event.

There are lots of great door

prizes and it’s the perfect

opportunity for new spous-

es to network and get

plugged into Barksdale.

Please note this month’s

HeartLink will occur during

the duty day, instead of it’s

usual evening time. If a

spouse from your unit

plans to attend and is need

of childcare, please have

him/her stop by the A&FRC

to pick their childcare

voucher no later than Fri-

day, 17 February (our of-

fice will be closed on Mon-

day, 20 Feb for President’s

Day). For further questions,

PAGE 3

Give Parents a Break Guidelines

2MUNS Key Spouse Highlight Mrs. Rachel Penwell

***HeartLink Time Change - 9a.m. - 2p.m.***

The Air Force Aid Society (AFAS) in partner-

ship with the Child Development Center

(CDC) provide military parents a break

from the stresses of parenting. AFAS rec-

ognizes that Air Force families are subject

to unique stressors due to the nature of

military life - deployments, remote tours of

duty, extended work hours, etc. Families

are often separated from spouses as well

as from extended family members who

might otherwise offer support. This pro-

gram Is not limited to deployed spouses

only, but is open to parents facing family

life stressors. Referrals can be made by

Squadron Commanders, First Sergeants,

Chaplains, Family Advocacy Personnel,

Medical Personnel, and/or Airman & Fami-

ly Readiness Personnel.

This year’s Give Parents A Break Schedule

is as follows:

10 February 1830-2230

10 March 1830-2230

12 May 1830-2230

9 June 1830-2230

14 July 1830-2230

11 August 1830-2230

8 September 1830-2230

13 October 1830-2230

3 November 1830-2230

8 December 1830-2230

2017 Military Saves Week

27 February – 3 March

“Set a Goal, Make a Plan, Save Automatically”

Get started on reducing the financial stress for you and your family. The theme,

“Set a Goal, Make a Plan, Save Automatically,” is designed to encourage every-

one to establish financial goals, develop an action plan to reach those goals, and

start saving automatically. This will allow you to establish an emergency sav-

ings, reduce debt, and build wealth. The website provides you information on

multiple financial issues as well as access to a FREE credit report and score.

Start now and enjoy the positive effects of financial stability (No More Stress!!).

During this week, the A&FRC staff will focus on helping you get financially fit.

Monday – Friday, come on in and talk with one of our financial counselors and

get a FREE credit report and FICO score.

To learn more about Military Saves and take the Saver’s Pledge, go to

www.militarysaves.org. For more information contact the Airman & Family

Readiness Center at 456-8400.

7 Feb 1200 Communication During the De-

ployment Cycle This workshop is designed to assist couples with the

challenges many face due to deployment. Discussion

and group exercises will address normal concerns.

Couples will identify their individual concerns, and

then apply resources and tools to assist with effective

communication, problem-solving, and self-action

strategies regarding concerns.

27 Feb 1100 & 1700 Saving Basics: Building

a Sound Foundation: Learn basic money management skills. Setting

goals, emergency savings, budgets, spend plans, establishing credit, long term savings,

and other financial items will be discussed.

28 Feb 1800 Key Spouse monthly meeting

This month’s meeting will feature guest speak-

ers from the Sexual Assault Prevention office

& Mental Health Suicide Prevention.

28 Feb 1100 & 1700 Growing Wealth (Do you Want to be a Millionaire?): Learn how you

can reach your long term financial goals by

letting your money work for you. We’ll discuss basic investment products and which ones

might be right for you. Let’s get rich together!